Fluid-delivery system, device, and adapter for delivering fluid to tissue

Abstract

A fluid-delivery system, a fluid-delivery device, and an adapter are described herein for applying fluid to tissue. The adapter generally includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a grasping handle to be grasped by a grasping instrument having a pair of jaws, and a collar surrounding the grasping handle to increase a grip on the pair of jaws. The distal portion is adapted to connect with the fluid-delivery device. The fluid-delivery device generally includes a tip to apply the fluid to the tissue, a tip saturator to supply the tip with the fluid, a flow regulator to control fluid flow to the tip saturator, and a fluid housing to contain the fluid which is appliable to the tissue. The fluid-delivery system includes the adapter connected with the fluid-delivery device. The fluid-delivery system is particularly advantageous for marking tissues during endoscopic surgical procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid-delivery system for applying fluid to tissue, comprising:
 an adapter configured to connect with a grasping instrument; and 
 a fluid-delivery device configured to connect with the adapter and apply the fluid to the tissue; 
 wherein said adapter comprises:
 a proximal portion having a grasping handle configured to be grasped by the grasping instrument which has a pair of jaws; and 
 a distal portion distal to the proximal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a chamber having a first dimension configured to couple with the fluid-delivery device; and 
 
 wherein said fluid-delivery device comprises:
 a tip at a distal end of the fluid-delivery device to apply the fluid to the tissue; 
 a tip saturator proximally adjacent to the tip to supply the fluid to the tip; 
 a flow regulator proximally adjacent to the tip saturator; 
 a fluid housing proximal to the flow regulator, wherein the fluid housing is configured to house a fluid cartridge containing the fluid which is appliable to the tissue; and 
 a proximal end proximal to the fluid housing, wherein the proximal end has a second dimension smaller than the first dimension of the chamber in order for the proximal end to fit inside the chamber of the adapter. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the proximal portion of the adapter further comprises a collar positioned about at least a portion of the grasping handle such that a pair of openings are formed between the grasping handle and the collar, wherein each opening of the pair of openings is configured to receive and encircle a jaw of the pair of jaws of the grasping instrument to further stabilize and secure the adapter to the grasping instrument. 
     
     
       3. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the collar of the adapter further comprises perforations such that when the jaws of the grasping instrument are forcefully opened, the perforations tear to release the jaws from the adapter. 
     
     
       4. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the adapter further comprises an anchoring mechanism comprised of a tether attached to an anchor, wherein the anchor is attached to at least one of the grasping handle or the collar and the tether is configured to attach to the grasping instrument. 
     
     
       5. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 2  wherein the adapter further comprises an adjustment mechanism disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion to permit the distal portion to move relative to the proximal portion. 
     
     
       6. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 5  wherein the adjustment mechanism is at least one of a hinge or one or more malleable support structures. 
     
     
       7. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 5  wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to permit the distal portion to rotate at least 10 degrees relative to the proximal portion. 
     
     
       8. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the proximal end of the fluid-delivery device is at least one of: a) a smooth surface for a press-fit connection inside the chamber; b) threads to form an interlocking connection inside the chamber, or c) a cylindrical body to be received and secured inside the chamber. 
     
     
       9. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said chamber comprises an inner proximal end surface that makes contact with a proximal end surface of the fluid-delivery device when the fluid-delivery device is placed inside the chamber such that when a pressure is applied against the tip of the fluid-delivery device, the fluid inside the fluid housing is expelled from the tip. 
     
     
       10. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the tip of the fluid-delivery device is a brush tip. 
     
     
       11. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid cartridge is a disposable fluid cartridge, and wherein the fluid-delivery device further comprises a piercer extending proximally from the flow regulator to pierce at least a portion of the disposable fluid cartridge to access the fluid stored in the disposable fluid cartridge. 
     
     
       12. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 11  wherein the fluid-delivery device further comprises an outer casing that encloses the tip saturator, the flow regulator, the piercer, and the fluid cartridge. 
     
     
       13. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid-delivery device further comprises an outer casing that encloses the tip saturator, the flow regulator, and the fluid housing when assembled in the outer casing, wherein the fluid housing further comprises:
 a central support traversing along a central longitudinal axis of the fluid-delivery device to link the flow regulator with the proximal end of the fluid-delivery device; and 
 an outer open region extending radially about the central support, wherein a seal is formed between the outer open region and the outer casing to permit the fluid to be stored in the outer open region of the fluid housing. 
 
     
     
       14. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first dimension of the chamber is either a width of the chamber or a diameter of the chamber, and wherein the second dimension of the proximal end of the fluid-delivery device is either a width of the proximal end of the fluid delivery device or a diameter of the proximal end of the fluid delivery device. 
     
     
       15. The fluid-delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the entirety of the fluid-delivery device is distal to the proximal portion of the adapter when the fluid-delivery device is coupled to the adapter. 
     
     
       16. An adapter configured to connect with a grasping instrument and a fluid-delivery device, the adapter comprising:
 a proximal portion having a grasping handle and a collar positioned about at least a portion of the grasping handle such that a pair of openings are formed between the grasping handle and the collar, wherein said grasping handle is configured to be grasped by the grasping instrument which has a pair of jaws, and wherein each of said openings of the pair of openings is configured to receive and encircle a jaw of the pair of jaws of the grasping instrument to further stabilize and secure the adapter to the grasping instrument; 
 a distal portion distal to the proximal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a chamber having a first dimension configured to couple to a proximal end of the fluid-delivery device, wherein the first dimension is larger than a second dimension of the proximal end of the fluid-delivery device in order for the proximal end of the fluid-delivery device to fit inside the chamber; and 
 an adjustment mechanism disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion to permit the distal portion to move relative to the proximal portion, wherein the adjustment mechanism is at least one of a hinge or one or more malleable support structures. 
 
     
     
       17. The adapter of  claim 16  wherein the collar of the adapter further comprises perforations such that when the jaws of the grasping instrument are forcefully opened, the perforations tear to release the jaws from the adapter. 
     
     
       18. The adapter of  claim 16  wherein the first dimension of the chamber is either a width of the chamber or a diameter of the chamber, and wherein the second dimension of the proximal end of the fluid-delivery device is either a width of the proximal end of the fluid delivery device or a diameter of the proximal end of the fluid delivery device. 
     
     
       19. The adapter of  claim 16  wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to permit the distal portion to rotate at least 10 degrees relative to the proximal portion.